River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-05-05
JOHNNIE'S LESSON.

$50 straight there, Johnnie, and
don't stop anywhere. -
Johnnie promised but on the way, he
met Nicholas Barnes, called for short
Mick" He was new boy in town,
and had several times made great
dead of trouble for his folks. Johnnie
had promised not to have anything to
do with Nick.
But Nick had met Johnnie few
days before, and offered him some
candy. Johnnie took it, saying to him.
self. .'NickI not so bad us some PEG.
people think"
This time Nick met him as if he had
been an old friend asking "Where YOU
going?"
"Store for oil, +" replied Johnnie.
How much money you gOt?'
Johnnie showed a bright piece Of
silver.
IAN that for oil?" asked Nick.
"Yes.'
mo change back? Not red,
Johnnie?"
Not red, = answered Johnnie
Nick thought moment. then began
to talk of something very different.
'When we going to have some choco.
late creamSP'
Johnnie's mouth watered, for he was
very fond Of thai kind of confectionery.
lie sighed as he said: '.Dun-no, money
is scarce down our way
They were now nearing the church.
Lets sit down here on the Old
South steps and talk it over said
Nick. Lets see, treated on cho-
colates last time, now it's your turn.
Johnnie hadn't thought of that when
he accepted half the contents of the
candy bag. For the first time it dawned
upon him that Nick would expect him
TO return the compliment. He said;
dunno when it'll be Nick. Pas
sold one of his horses cause he was
short for money; he's going to make
one do all the work, 50 | don't think
I'll get much spending money this
summer.
Suddenly a queer look came over
Nick's face. He spoke quickly, but in
low tone.
..Youi just keep still minute, Johnnie,
7 II tell you something"
He dashed away without giving any
information. Johnnie kept ''still
until hewas tired of It; and was about
starting for the store when Nick APP
peared, very much excited.
'Johnnie,n he said" we can have
some chocolates to-day
GLOW 500"
ut came into my head just now
when see the old sexton going down
into the graveyard" said Nick. Hes
left the church open, the cellar door
unlocked and there's a whole barrel OF
kerosene in there!'
As the plan flashed upon Johnnie s
mind, his face grew very red. Nick
did not seem to notice this and went
on:
Lets fill the can, who'll know the
difference? | guess two quarts of oil
wont Kill nobody"
Johnnie was greatly shocked, but be-
fore he could speak Nick disappeared
with the can. When lie returned it was
full. He passed it to Johnnie, who
4 shrank back.
II can't take the oil, Nick; it don't
belong to me. It's stealing"
STEALING? Oh, nc" said Nick
slowly. .'Now you look here, this oil
belongs to the parish, and yonr pa is
one of them. SO you see part of the
oil is his'n."
He stopped suddenly with a look OF
/ fright, the old sexton was returning.
Evidently Nick thought his argument
would not convince him, for he said
hurriedly.
1T wont do for us to hang round
here any longer, he'll know the
whole thing. Let's hide the can and
have some fun up town"
As they went, Nick seeing that
Johnnie did not feel right about it,
said
The South church folks are rs rich
as mud. An old Teller died here once,
and left them piles OF money to run
things with. So this oil don't come o
them. 1t wont hurt them TO give us a
little once in a while, as longs, they
cot whole barrel. If the sexton
don't lock up the oil cellar I'm going
to fill mothers can"
BY this time the boys had arrived al
/ the store. Soon their pockets were full
of chocolates. Johnnie did not enjoy
them so much rs usual, he began to fee
sick. This was soon explained away
by the bad boy. He said some of the
oil on their hands had got on the
candy; and he wds feeling very much
/ the same. which was some comfort
That night Johnnie was very i'll. and
tossed sleeplessly in his little bed
/ Somehow he did not want to call hi.
mother, neither did he feel ike saying
I this PRAYERS. He was not alarmed at hi.
sickness, for what Nick had said about
the oil seemed reasonable. Often he
turned his pillow and closed his eyes
saying:
..Cl course. everybody knows kero-
sere oil and chocolate creams won't
mix
But this did not appease his stomach
/ or his conscience, and give sleep. he
I toHgeu 10 return inc oIs Dut WIS ht
could not do without being found out
lie thought It would be just as well tc
put its value into the contribution box
rs soon as he could earn it. He hall
resolved to tell bis mother all, bit
something held him back. He decided
to confess to her when he had paid fol
the OH.
After such a miserable night and the
Ipleadings of conscience. one might sup
pose that Johnnie would never have beer
tempted again. His intentions were
good; but Nick's influence was bad
4 having taken the first step in wrong
doing. Tie second and third were easier
Tbs boys filed their cans again anf
again. but one day they filed them fol
fAe list time. for as they knelt beforI
the great barrel. heavy hand was lait
upon thozn and they we're both IN dis
I'm night Sick disappearesland wa